Aviator&#39;s helmet



Sept. 27, 1932. 5, s. (:QOPER AVIATORS HELMET Filed April 18, 1930 2 7 V INVENTOR.

Sham) c9 ATTORNEYS Fatented Sept. 2 7, 1932 PATE'N T OFFICE STEWART s. COOPER, or CINCINNATI, OHIO AVIATOR/S HELMET 1 Application filed April 18,

My invention is addressed to headgear of the type known as v helmets and I generally used by aviators and the like. Such helmets have ordinarily been made with a portion which more or less tightly encloses the head of the wearer, with depending portions which cover the ears, and approach each other or overlap beneath the chin, where some form of fastening device has been located. This has resulted in a bunching of fabric parts beneath the chin as well as the presence there of fastening devices which are awkward to get at, are in the way, and frequently are uncomfortable. Such helmets are relatively diflicult of adjustment, and relatively di'Hicult to put on and remove.

An object of my invention is to provide atype of helmet which is not adjusted from the chin strap, and which consequently does not have at the chin portion a cumbersome construction, extra parts or uncomfortable fastening devices. Another obj ectof my'invention is the provision of a helmet which is fastened and adjusted from the rear of the head portion, preferably. with one of the continuous types of fasteners, so that the operation of putting on and removing the helmet is-greatly facilitated as will hereinafter be made clear. Still another object of my invention is the provision of a new I and improved construction of ear-opening and closure therefor. Still another object of my-invention is the provision of an improved selfadjusting chin strap construction.

These and other objects of my invention, which will be set forth hereinafter or will be apparent to one skilled in the art upon reading these specifications, I accomplish by that certain construction and arrangement of parts of which I shall now describe a preferred embodiment, reference being made to the drawing which are a part hereof. The embodiment to be described illustrates my invention in its simplest form, namely a summer-weight helmet. It will be understood thatmodifications may be made in my invention without departing from the spirit thereof, and that other structure may be added such as inner linings, padding, avisor and 1930. Serial No.445,365.

the'like while employing my improvements for the purpose described.

- In the drawing Figure 1 is a front View of my helmet.

Figure 2 is a view showing the side and part of the rear portion. V

Figure 3 is a rear view with the portion open. I

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view of an ear -coyieringportion with the closure opening, Figure 5 isa sectional view of a portion of my helmet through the ear opening members and on the line 55 of Figure 2. v I Figure 6' is a partial cross section on line 6-6-of Fig.2.

My'helmet comprises in general a dome shaped portion to cover the head, and de pending portions comingdown over the ears and beneath the chin. In the summer weight helmet shown the head portion comprises leather pieces 1 and 2 joined by suitable seams and forming the crown'of the helmet, and side portions 3 and 4 which join the crown forming portions, and have extended portions covering the ears. My helmet is closure split from the rearmost portion toward the forehead portion as shownmost clearly in Figure 3, and the meeting members of the split portion are adapted to be joined by some suitable form of fastening device. As indicated I prefer to use one of the well known forms of continuous fasteners such as a hookless fastener, andI have shown in the several figures a line of fastening devices 5 joined to the meeting edges of members 1 and 2. The regulation closure device 6 is provided, having a handle 7 Within the helmet to the member 2 in Figure 3 I have attached a supplementary leather flap 8 which protects the head from the fastening device. 7

i It will thus be seen that I may place my helmet on the head'and then adjust it'in place by closing the hookless fastener, pullingrearwardly'and downwardly upon the handle-7 until the helmet is closed, as shown in Figure 2. I have provided a small flap 9 having a portion of a snap fastener 10, which flap is sewed to the member 2 as at 11. *When the helmet is closed thefastener 10 engages with the corresponding. fastening device 12 afiixed to the member 1, so as to cause flap 9 to cover and hold in place the handle 7 of the fastening device. To remove my helmet I merely release flap 9, grasp handle 7 and pull upwardly and forwardly on it, thereby splitting the helmet as shown. When the opening has become large enough a continuation of the motion will serve to pull the helmet off the head forwardly. Thus it be seen not only that I have provided my type of helmet which is more easily placed on the head and adjusted than any other type hither-' to provided, but which also is not adjusted o1 fastened from or in the chin portion. I am thus able to provide a chin portion which is continuous in character, but I have devised a construction of the chin strap which provides desirable resiliency there without an acc mul tion o umbersome parts- To the depending portions 13 and 14 of. my helmet I sew extensions of leather ,or'other fabric 15 and 16 by stitching 17, forming pocke s, ich are not. themse ves. joined toge he bu re fin s ed il by a suitable seam at their open bottoms, as will be readily u d rs o d, and are clo ed a h top p t o s by the stitching 17. I provide a chin strap comprising a central portion 18,prefsta ly of non-elas i f bri suc as l a and to this at either end I attach pieces of the. elastic 19 The elastic is held at its outward ends in each pocket by stitching 20 as s own; he. membe and 18.. thus form ubstantia ly nt n o tr p und the chin which is not bunglesome and has no buckles r other a t ni g dev e -V It is si ient, ows r1 in hat. he member 18 may s e in. a d ut o he po k on ther side, its veme ts ng c ntrolled y the e a tic w hini V t w e clear hat my nvention. s. n limited to any particular type of fastener .0 o any Par ula con tru tion o he m t, being adaptable to lined helmets or to helmets constructed from other materials or from other pieces than those shown herein.

Ear openings in a helmet of this character dv sa e, nd Whi e any ype of ear opening may be employed, I prefer to construct the ear openings in the manner shown in the several figures, in which I have indicated a piece of felt 21 sewn on either side of the helmet withinit and covering the ear portions. 7 These felt pieces are split as at 22. The helmet top part 3 overlying them is correspondingly split and to this portion on ei s e a e a c d port-ions 23 pr ab-ly of a continuous fastener of the type used on the head portion of the helmet, and having a closure member 24 and a. handle 25.

The. handle bears one part 26: of a. snap fastener, the other part 2.7: ofwhich is attached in the proper position to the helmet below the fastener portions. 23. Thus when my ear openings are closed as shown in ure 2, the handle may be snapped into place so that it will not rattle. When the ear openings are open as in Figure d the nature of the continuous fastener in conjunction with the closure member 14 enforces a slight separation of the parts, thereby making an actual opening through the helmet.

I-laving thus described my invention what I claim is new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: 5

1 An aviators helmet or the like having a head enclosing portion and a portion engaging beneath the chin, the said helmet being split in the head portion from the rear to ward th fr nt thereof, and means for joining the split edges thereof, a supplementary flap within the helmet underlying the meeting edges of said split portion, said portion engaging beneath the chin comprising interspaced pockets and a chin strap entering said pockets and resilently held there within.

2. An aviators helmet or the like comprising a head covering: portion and a portion engaging beneath the chin, said head covering portion being split longitudinally from the rearmost portion toward the front and being closed by a continuous fastening member operable rearwardly to close 1t. and upwardly and forwardly to. open it and remove the helmet, and a supplementary flap within such helmet underlying said fastener, said portion engaging beneath the chin comprising intorspaced pockets and a chin strap entering said pockets and resiliently held ther within.

In a helmet a chin strap construction comprising members, approaching beneath the chin, said members constituting hollow pockets, a chin strap. havinga non-resilient central portion and resilient ends, said strap being engaged at either. end within said pockets, the resilient portions being attached to said first. mentioned members, and the resilient portions lying wholly within said pockets.

4-. An ator helmet ort ik compr e; a ead c mg p rtio and a p r engaglng beneath the chin, said head covering portion being split longitudinally from r;

the rearmost portion toward the front and being closed by a continuous, fastening member operable rearWardly to close it and upwardly and forwardlytO, Open it and remove the helmet, and a supplementary flap within such helmet underlying said fastener, said portion engaging beneath the chin comprising interspaced pockets and achin strap entering said pockets and resiliently held there within, and a supplementary flap with a snap i fastener attachedto the rearmost portion of said helmet, and adapted to coverthe operating device of said continuous fastener when in closed position.

5. An aviators helmet or the like comprising a head covering portion and a portion engaging beneath the chin, said head covering portion being split longitudinally from the rearmost portion toward the front and being closed by a continuous fastening member operable rearwardly to close it and upwardly and forwardly to open it and remove the helmet, said portion engaging beneath the chin comprising interspaced pockets and a chin strap entering said pockets and resiliently held there within, and a supplementary flap with a snap fastener attached to the rearmost portion of said helmet and adapted to cover the operating device of said continuous fastener when in closed position.

6. A hehnet comprising a head covering portion and a portion engaging beneath the V chin and ear members,'c0mpr1sing a supplementary layer of fabric covering the ears and attached within said helmet, said fabric and said helmet being split over the ear portions and a continuous fastening attached to the meeting edges of said slits in said helmet.

STEWART S. COOPER. 

